Yale Papyrus Collection

Collection of Materials Relating to the National Negro Housewives League

At the height of the Depression, Negro Housewives Leagues recognized the importance of the purchasing power in the hands of African American women and endeavored to harness that power in support of African-American owned businesses. They worked to improve employment opportunities and enhance economic development in African American communities. The National Negro Housewives League was founded in 1933, uniting Negro Housewives Leagues in several major US cities, including Detroit, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and St. Louis; Fannie B. Peck, founder of the Housewives League of Detroit, was named President of the national organization. This small collection of ephemeral documents includes programs and announcements, the League’s “Declaration of Purpose,” and a silk bookmark bearing the image of Mrs. Fannie B. Peck.